Anyone get telework approved at SEC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After reading some of these responses, I think there needs to be a more uniform approach that is consistent across divisions and offices. Some offices should not get to telework more just because they have a cool boss while others never get telework because of a strict boss. It should be the same policy for all SEC staff.

If you ask for a uniform approach right now, it will be uniformly bad for everyone. All you'll accomplish is getting that bad approach written into a document that will be hard to change.

I can tell you from long experience that how telework actually gets increased IRL is that individuals work out deals, and those go okay, and the deal gets expanded to other people over time. In an unfriendly environment like the one we have now, you want some people to get more flexibility even though that isn't fair. Those individual deals normalize the policy you want while also creating internal pressure because everybody tries to get into the offices with good policies and supervisors who actually use their flexibility. Then at an opportune moment, that gets turned into policy for everybody. I've seen this happen repeatedly at agencies without unions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After reading some of these responses, I think there needs to be a more uniform approach that is consistent across divisions and offices. Some offices should not get to telework more just because they have a cool boss while others never get telework because of a strict boss. It should be the same policy for all SEC staff.

If you ask for a uniform approach right now, it will be uniformly bad for everyone. All you'll accomplish is getting that bad approach written into a document that will be hard to change.

I can tell you from long experience that how telework actually gets increased IRL is that individuals work out deals, and those go okay, and the deal gets expanded to other people over time. In an unfriendly environment like the one we have now, you want some people to get more flexibility even though that isn't fair. Those individual deals normalize the policy you want while also creating internal pressure because everybody tries to get into the offices with good policies and supervisors who actually use their flexibility. Then at an opportune moment, that gets turned into policy for everybody. I've seen this happen repeatedly at agencies without unions.

Exactly. FWIW I'm NOT one of the ones with the deal that ppl are saying above that their supervisors are saying 1-2 days per week is ok as long is it's different days. Yet some telework coming back quietly for some people will lead to a little bit more, little bit more, as word gets around, supervisors start to feel like hmm my counterparts in x office are approving it with no consequence to them etc. You go around demanding perfect fairness right now and someone is bound to come out with an edict scolding the people allowing any telework at all and saying no telework allowed for anyone ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s accurate to call it a “right” (or else they wouldn’t have been able to get rid of it. Probably a privilege. I agree it sucks thag management did this.

Management is too busy sucking up to Doge. I mean we need to wear our badges at all times. We're still doing the 5 bullet points? Even FDA which has had massive RIFs is bringing back 2 day/wk telework and has told everyone that they're done with the bullets. Us nope - keep sucking up to OPM/DOGE/WH like the spineless leaders you are.

Paul has been confirmed. Where the hell is he? I realize a town hall doesn't come together the next day but not even an email to staff?

You were always supposed to wear your badge, even if many people didn’t. And who the f cares about spending two minutes (max) on the five things email.

Maybe after two huge DIFs we can get back to TW twice a week, or even better, maybe we stop complaining about stupid stuff, and we avoid the RIFs altogether. (And FDA’s telework is really limited in terms of who can take part, so you probably don’t want to use that as a model.)

I mean you sound like one of those SEC people who feels soooo blessed to be here at all. I don't feel that way so YMMV. It's not that wearing a badge is a big deal or 5 seconds on a bullet email is a big deal, it's that leadership is being spineless. If they can't say no to 5 bullets, you legit think they'll say no when DOGE says hmm you know what you need a 15% RIF, the retirements weren't enough. News flash - they won't. So this spinelessness isn't protecting us from anything in the future.

I wouldn’t say I feel soooo blessed, but I do recognize we have a pretty good deal.

I disagree on your other point. Part of the reason to not fight not stupid stuff (badge, five things) and even some not stupid stuff (RTO) is to try to avoid pissing off dodge and having them ask for a 15% RIF. Is that definitely going to work? No, but it’s worth a shot.

Also, I don’t agree that them not fighting on the smaller stuff means they won’t fight on the bigger stuff. Atkins has an agenda and he knows he can’t accomplish with a wholly depleted and demoralized staff, so yes I do think it is possible leadership will fight on the bigger stuff, if steps to not need the fight don’t work.

Doge is gonna Doge. It doesn’t matter what you do or don’t do. It doesn’t matter if you are under the radar or out there in the wide open. Thinking otherwise is a pipe dream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Without opening the whole debate of lunch time or not, how much do we think they're simply going to be checking badge swipes for 8.5 hours per day versus matching up badge swipes to whatever your stated entrance and exit time is supposed to be per your schedule?

I've never gotten to work on time ever in my life unless it's something important like court or registrant meeting. So it's not about to happen in middle age. But I'm not a cheater either - if I'm 20 min late, I stay 20 minutes later. This was never ever a problem for anyone in before times. I wonder if it's a problem now.

You can still do this. Most supervisors won’t make you use and earn credit hours in the same day for something like this. But it is technically required and some (probably newer) supervisors might require that.

Yeah I wouldn't worry about this. Honestly if they don't allow this what are they going to do - "discipline" everyone on the entire staff? Like what control does anyone have when Metro decides to randomly run the red line on a 10 min gap or there's some kind of hold for police activity? Or when traffic that reliably takes 35 min suddenly takes 50 one day?

So don’t worry about it. Maybe your supervisor will call you out, maybe not. Up to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After reading some of these responses, I think there needs to be a more uniform approach that is consistent across divisions and offices. Some offices should not get to telework more just because they have a cool boss while others never get telework because of a strict boss. It should be the same policy for all SEC staff.

If you ask for a uniform approach right now, it will be uniformly bad for everyone. All you'll accomplish is getting that bad approach written into a document that will be hard to change.

I can tell you from long experience that how telework actually gets increased IRL is that individuals work out deals, and those go okay, and the deal gets expanded to other people over time. In an unfriendly environment like the one we have now, you want some people to get more flexibility even though that isn't fair. Those individual deals normalize the policy you want while also creating internal pressure because everybody tries to get into the offices with good policies and supervisors who actually use their flexibility. Then at an opportune moment, that gets turned into policy for everybody. I've seen this happen repeatedly at agencies without unions.

Exactly. FWIW I'm NOT one of the ones with the deal that ppl are saying above that their supervisors are saying 1-2 days per week is ok as long is it's different days. Yet some telework coming back quietly for some people will lead to a little bit more, little bit more, as word gets around, supervisors start to feel like hmm my counterparts in x office are approving it with no consequence to them etc. You go around demanding perfect fairness right now and someone is bound to come out with an edict scolding the people allowing any telework at all and saying no telework allowed for anyone ever.

Very true! And I don’t believe anyone is being told 1-2 days per week is ok, as long as the days vary, even though I’m sure there is some variation in terms of who good a reason you need to telework on occasion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s accurate to call it a “right” (or else they wouldn’t have been able to get rid of it. Probably a privilege. I agree it sucks thag management did this.

Management is too busy sucking up to Doge. I mean we need to wear our badges at all times. We're still doing the 5 bullet points? Even FDA which has had massive RIFs is bringing back 2 day/wk telework and has told everyone that they're done with the bullets. Us nope - keep sucking up to OPM/DOGE/WH like the spineless leaders you are.

Paul has been confirmed. Where the hell is he? I realize a town hall doesn't come together the next day but not even an email to staff?

You were always supposed to wear your badge, even if many people didn’t. And who the f cares about spending two minutes (max) on the five things email.

Maybe after two huge DIFs we can get back to TW twice a week, or even better, maybe we stop complaining about stupid stuff, and we avoid the RIFs altogether. (And FDA’s telework is really limited in terms of who can take part, so you probably don’t want to use that as a model.)

I mean you sound like one of those SEC people who feels soooo blessed to be here at all. I don't feel that way so YMMV. It's not that wearing a badge is a big deal or 5 seconds on a bullet email is a big deal, it's that leadership is being spineless. If they can't say no to 5 bullets, you legit think they'll say no when DOGE says hmm you know what you need a 15% RIF, the retirements weren't enough. News flash - they won't. So this spinelessness isn't protecting us from anything in the future.

I wouldn’t say I feel soooo blessed, but I do recognize we have a pretty good deal.

I disagree on your other point. Part of the reason to not fight not stupid stuff (badge, five things) and even some not stupid stuff (RTO) is to try to avoid pissing off dodge and having them ask for a 15% RIF. Is that definitely going to work? No, but it’s worth a shot.

Also, I don’t agree that them not fighting on the smaller stuff means they won’t fight on the bigger stuff. Atkins has an agenda and he knows he can’t accomplish with a wholly depleted and demoralized staff, so yes I do think it is possible leadership will fight on the bigger stuff, if steps to not need the fight don’t work.

Doge is gonna Doge. It doesn’t matter what you do or don’t do. It doesn’t matter if you are under the radar or out there in the wide open. Thinking otherwise is a pipe dream.

That may be true. But still no reason to pick fights on the 5 things, badge, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s accurate to call it a “right” (or else they wouldn’t have been able to get rid of it. Probably a privilege. I agree it sucks thag management did this.

Management is too busy sucking up to Doge. I mean we need to wear our badges at all times. We're still doing the 5 bullet points? Even FDA which has had massive RIFs is bringing back 2 day/wk telework and has told everyone that they're done with the bullets. Us nope - keep sucking up to OPM/DOGE/WH like the spineless leaders you are.

Paul has been confirmed. Where the hell is he? I realize a town hall doesn't come together the next day but not even an email to staff?

You were always supposed to wear your badge, even if many people didn’t. And who the f cares about spending two minutes (max) on the five things email.

Maybe after two huge DIFs we can get back to TW twice a week, or even better, maybe we stop complaining about stupid stuff, and we avoid the RIFs altogether. (And FDA’s telework is really limited in terms of who can take part, so you probably don’t want to use that as a model.)

I mean you sound like one of those SEC people who feels soooo blessed to be here at all. I don't feel that way so YMMV. It's not that wearing a badge is a big deal or 5 seconds on a bullet email is a big deal, it's that leadership is being spineless. If they can't say no to 5 bullets, you legit think they'll say no when DOGE says hmm you know what you need a 15% RIF, the retirements weren't enough. News flash - they won't. So this spinelessness isn't protecting us from anything in the future.

I wouldn’t say I feel soooo blessed, but I do recognize we have a pretty good deal.

I disagree on your other point. Part of the reason to not fight not stupid stuff (badge, five things) and even some not stupid stuff (RTO) is to try to avoid pissing off dodge and having them ask for a 15% RIF. Is that definitely going to work? No, but it’s worth a shot.

Also, I don’t agree that them not fighting on the smaller stuff means they won’t fight on the bigger stuff. Atkins has an agenda and he knows he can’t accomplish with a wholly depleted and demoralized staff, so yes I do think it is possible leadership will fight on the bigger stuff, if steps to not need the fight don’t work.

Doge is gonna Doge. It doesn’t matter what you do or don’t do. It doesn’t matter if you are under the radar or out there in the wide open. Thinking otherwise is a pipe dream.

That may be true. But still no reason to pick fights on the 5 things, badge, etc.

Yes it's much better leadership to bend over . This is why the SEC is the way it is, 90% of people are scared of their shadows - doesn't matter if they're staff, leadership, whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Without opening the whole debate of lunch time or not, how much do we think they're simply going to be checking badge swipes for 8.5 hours per day versus matching up badge swipes to whatever your stated entrance and exit time is supposed to be per your schedule?

I've never gotten to work on time ever in my life unless it's something important like court or registrant meeting. So it's not about to happen in middle age. But I'm not a cheater either - if I'm 20 min late, I stay 20 minutes later. This was never ever a problem for anyone in before times. I wonder if it's a problem now.

You can still do this. Most supervisors won’t make you use and earn credit hours in the same day for something like this. But it is technically required and some (probably newer) supervisors might require that.

Yeah I wouldn't worry about this. Honestly if they don't allow this what are they going to do - "discipline" everyone on the entire staff? Like what control does anyone have when Metro decides to randomly run the red line on a 10 min gap or there's some kind of hold for police activity? Or when traffic that reliably takes 35 min suddenly takes 50 one day?

So don’t worry about it. Maybe your supervisor will call you out, maybe not. Up to you.

I'm not worrying about it. If they call me out, whatever I'm out anyway. Have hated the place since day 1 and just stayed bc it was a cushy high paying gig.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here we go again. No and please stop with this.

. On the one hand, I agree with this. On the other, I’m so effing tired of being told to appreciate that we have jobs and don’t complain about the reductions in our working conditions. I’m at another agency and RTO is killing me. It’s not because I’m lazy or because I didn’t work when at home. It’s because my whole life was organized around a benefit I’ve had since 2015. But yeah, don’t complain and be happy with less and less, while giving more and more. It sucks. We SHOULD be pushing back.

Agree 10000 percent on this!!! This is most people I know in the same boat. I want our telework back. We aren’t children. This is absurd that irs 2025 and now moving backwards despite all this technology and proof that the past five years was move productive than before. The US has lost its mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s accurate to call it a “right” (or else they wouldn’t have been able to get rid of it. Probably a privilege. I agree it sucks thag management did this.

Management is too busy sucking up to Doge. I mean we need to wear our badges at all times. We're still doing the 5 bullet points? Even FDA which has had massive RIFs is bringing back 2 day/wk telework and has told everyone that they're done with the bullets. Us nope - keep sucking up to OPM/DOGE/WH like the spineless leaders you are.

Paul has been confirmed. Where the hell is he? I realize a town hall doesn't come together the next day but not even an email to staff?

You were always supposed to wear your badge, even if many people didn’t. And who the f cares about spending two minutes (max) on the five things email.

Maybe after two huge DIFs we can get back to TW twice a week, or even better, maybe we stop complaining about stupid stuff, and we avoid the RIFs altogether. (And FDA’s telework is really limited in terms of who can take part, so you probably don’t want to use that as a model.)

I mean you sound like one of those SEC people who feels soooo blessed to be here at all. I don't feel that way so YMMV. It's not that wearing a badge is a big deal or 5 seconds on a bullet email is a big deal, it's that leadership is being spineless. If they can't say no to 5 bullets, you legit think they'll say no when DOGE says hmm you know what you need a 15% RIF, the retirements weren't enough. News flash - they won't. So this spinelessness isn't protecting us from anything in the future.

I wouldn’t say I feel soooo blessed, but I do recognize we have a pretty good deal.

I disagree on your other point. Part of the reason to not fight not stupid stuff (badge, five things) and even some not stupid stuff (RTO) is to try to avoid pissing off dodge and having them ask for a 15% RIF. Is that definitely going to work? No, but it’s worth a shot.

Also, I don’t agree that them not fighting on the smaller stuff means they won’t fight on the bigger stuff. Atkins has an agenda and he knows he can’t accomplish with a wholly depleted and demoralized staff, so yes I do think it is possible leadership will fight on the bigger stuff, if steps to not need the fight don’t work.

Doge is gonna Doge. It doesn’t matter what you do or don’t do. It doesn’t matter if you are under the radar or out there in the wide open. Thinking otherwise is a pipe dream.

That may be true. But still no reason to pick fights on the 5 things, badge, etc.

Yes it's much better leadership to bend over . This is why the SEC is the way it is, 90% of people are scared of their shadows - doesn't matter if they're staff, leadership, whatever.

And what good would come of pushing back on these issues? You think it would actually make a positive difference?

[Anonymous]

Regarding the argument that it’s “good” for some people to get telework now in the hopes of a long term pay off: you do realize that this just allows management to pick favorites? The most privileged people then will get the most perks. That’s not okay to me. If there is a real return to work with no telework, management should own that. And staff will accept it or leave. But it shouldn’t be a public PR of returning to work if some privileged people get telework granted when others don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regarding the argument that it’s “good” for some people to get telework now in the hopes of a long term pay off: you do realize that this just allows management to pick favorites? The most privileged people then will get the most perks. That’s not okay to me. If there is a real return to work with no telework, management should own that. And staff will accept it or leave. But it shouldn’t be a public PR of returning to work if some privileged people get telework granted when others don’t.

That doesn’t seem to be what people are saying. It seems like different managers have different approaches, rather than a manager letting employee A get away with something employee B couldn’t.

Maybe it’s still not ideal, but it’s not the same issue.

[Anonymous]

Anyone else having difficulty fitting their 80 into the public transit schedule without adding absurd amount of wasted time? It’s like someone designed the timing to work with 8/9/10 hour shifts, without taking into account the bloody half hour lunch.

[Anonymous]

First week of RTO and my kids are sick. FML.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s accurate to call it a “right” (or else they wouldn’t have been able to get rid of it. Probably a privilege. I agree it sucks thag management did this.

Management is too busy sucking up to Doge. I mean we need to wear our badges at all times. We're still doing the 5 bullet points? Even FDA which has had massive RIFs is bringing back 2 day/wk telework and has told everyone that they're done with the bullets. Us nope - keep sucking up to OPM/DOGE/WH like the spineless leaders you are.

Paul has been confirmed. Where the hell is he? I realize a town hall doesn't come together the next day but not even an email to staff?

You were always supposed to wear your badge, even if many people didn’t. And who the f cares about spending two minutes (max) on the five things email.

Maybe after two huge DIFs we can get back to TW twice a week, or even better, maybe we stop complaining about stupid stuff, and we avoid the RIFs altogether. (And FDA’s telework is really limited in terms of who can take part, so you probably don’t want to use that as a model.)

I mean you sound like one of those SEC people who feels soooo blessed to be here at all. I don't feel that way so YMMV. It's not that wearing a badge is a big deal or 5 seconds on a bullet email is a big deal, it's that leadership is being spineless. If they can't say no to 5 bullets, you legit think they'll say no when DOGE says hmm you know what you need a 15% RIF, the retirements weren't enough. News flash - they won't. So this spinelessness isn't protecting us from anything in the future.

I wouldn’t say I feel soooo blessed, but I do recognize we have a pretty good deal.

I disagree on your other point. Part of the reason to not fight not stupid stuff (badge, five things) and even some not stupid stuff (RTO) is to try to avoid pissing off dodge and having them ask for a 15% RIF. Is that definitely going to work? No, but it’s worth a shot.

Also, I don’t agree that them not fighting on the smaller stuff means they won’t fight on the bigger stuff. Atkins has an agenda and he knows he can’t accomplish with a wholly depleted and demoralized staff, so yes I do think it is possible leadership will fight on the bigger stuff, if steps to not need the fight don’t work.

Doge is gonna Doge. It doesn’t matter what you do or don’t do. It doesn’t matter if you are under the radar or out there in the wide open. Thinking otherwise is a pipe dream.

That may be true. But still no reason to pick fights on the 5 things, badge, etc.

Yes it's much better leadership to bend over . This is why the SEC is the way it is, 90% of people are scared of their shadows - doesn't matter if they're staff, leadership, whatever.

I think this is a lawyer thing. Conservative, rule followers who always want to act within the lines. Trust us to over self regulate. See all the law firms bending to trump. Lawyers are really so pathetic.